How to Reach Paradise Island by Airplane

Paradise Island, New Providence's premier resort town, is serviced by the Lynden Pindling International Airport

Paradise Island is almost primarily used by tourists as a grand resort town for those looking for adventure, fun, and a true tropical getaway. The island itself is connected to New Providence by bridge, and most people will begin their vacation by first flying into the local airport before making the 30 minute drive to their accommodations.

At less than an hour away by plane from the state of Florida, the Bahamas is easily accessible by people from the United States. It is probably for this reason that over 80 percent of people who pass through the Lynden Pindling International Airport each year do so from the United States. Still, international flights from North America, South America, Europe, and Asia touchdown at LPIO every day, and tourists from around the world will not have trouble booking a flight with the major commercial airlines that are known to fly to the Bahamas.

Tourists should always be prepared with their passport as well as a secondary form of identification when traveling to the Bahamas, because even though several countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are exempt from presenting their passports for a short stay on the islands, citizens will still need to present their passports to re-enter their home country.

Island Hopping

If you've got some extra time on your hands, chances are you're planning to take a day or two to do some island-hopping. If this is the case, you have two options with regards to how you'll fly. The first is to travel aboard BahamasAir, the most popular domestic airline. They offer flights every day to 14 different islands, and even a few to spots in the United States. With BahamasAir, your flight will be similar to ones booked about commercial airlines, just on a smaller scale, and seats are booked individually.

Your other option is to hire a private charter, also known as a Fixed-Base Operator (FBO). This is a great option if you're traveling with a larger party because you pay for the plane as a whole, rather than per seat. It is also ideal if you want to fly to an island not listed as a destination with BahamasAir.

Private Plane

Private planes are more than welcome to make the journey from Miami to FPIA, so long as they make sure to get all of the proper paperwork in order and follow the appropriate steps. They are as follows:

Prepare and file your International Flight Plan.

Use Miami radio frequencies 122.2, 122.4, or 126.7 to activate your flight plan.

Switch over to Nassau radio frequencies 124.2 or 128.0 when you approach to close out your flight plan.

When you arrive in the Bahamas, you will need to present three copies of the C71 Bahamas Customs form, proof of citizenship, and a Bahamas Immigration Card. Meanwhile, your return to the United States will have some subtle differences. Your to do list will be as follows:

Complete a Gen Dec.

Turn in a copy of your Immigration Card.

File your International Flight Plan at 800-WXBRIEF.

Use the Nassau radio frequencies noted above to activate your flight.

Listen to WOR 116.7 during your flight.

Switch to FDD 126.7 Miami Radio as you approach the city to obtain your discrete transporder code.

Close at your flight with 126.7 Miami Radio.

A quick call to the Avian Specialist Department at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism will clear up any questions you have about the process. The can be contacted at 800-32-SPORT.

...area is so tourist-friendly...

Getting to Paradise Island from the Airport

Several options exist for tourists who land in New Providence Island and need to get over the bridge to Paradise Island. The first is to rent a car and to drive yourself. If you'll spend your entire trip on Paradise Island, this is not recommended because the area is so tourist-friendly that there are plenty of ways to get around the island without having to driver yourself. Most people choose to hire a taxi. As previously noted, the trip takes 30 minutes and will cost about $32(USD) plus a $1(USD) bridge toll and the cost of a tip. Your final option is to take a $6(USD) ferry from Nassau to Paradise Island. These ferries depart from Prince George Wharf and take 10 minutes to reach Paradise Island. The last option is fun, but will still require a 20 minute taxi ride from the airport.

Getting to Paradise Island by air is one of the easiest options out there, though you'll have to travel about a half an hour after you arrive on New Providence to get there. Even so, it is the most popular transportation choice, and one you should wholeheartedly consider.

For those who live in the United States this list can aid the planning process. Not all of the flights you will be shown on the web make a lot of sense so it's useful to see a summary of which airlines provide direct service to this airport.

Lynden Pindling International Airport U.S. Flights

To/From

Airport Code

Airlines

Baltimore, MD, USA

BWI

AirTran, US Airways

Detroit, MI, USA

DTW

KLM, US Airways

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

FLL

Bahamasair, Jet Blue, SkyBahamas

Manchester, NH, USA

MHT

US Airways

Miami, FL, USA

MIA

American Eagle, Bahamasair

New Orleans, LA, USA

MSY

US Airways

Orlando, FL, USA

MCO

Bahamasair, Jet Blue

St. Louis, MO, USA

STL

US Airways

West Palm Beach, FL, USA

PBI

Bahamasair

Windsor Locks, CT, USA

BDL

US Airways

This chart indicates airline companies that have direct service from Canadian cities.

Lynden Pindling International Airport Canadian Flights

To/From

Airport Code

Airlines

Montreal, Canada

YUL

Air Canada

Flying to Paradise Island from the Caribbean

Check the chart below for airline service from airports in the Caribbean region. If you can't get a flight directly from your local airport, taking a connecting flight from another airport might be your best option.

Lynden Pindling International Airport Caribbean Flights

To/From

Airport Code

Airlines

Abaco, Bahamas

MHH

Abaco Air, Bahamasair, SkyBahamas, Western Air

Abaco, Bahamas

TCB

Bahamasair

Acklins, Bahamas

AXP

Bahamasair

Acklins, Bahamas

CRI

Bahamasair

Andros, Bahamas

COX

Performance Air, Western Air

Andros, Bahamas

MAY

Flamingo Air, Performance Air

Andros, Bahamas

SAQ

Western Air

Cat Island, Bahamas

ATC

SkyBahamas

Cat Island, Bahamas

CAT

SkyBahamas

Eleuthera, Bahamas

ELH

Bahamasair, SkyBahamas

Eleuthera, Bahamas

GHB

Bahamasair

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island

FPO

Bahamasair, SkyBahamas, Western Air

Georgetown, Grand Cayman

GCM

British Airways

Great Exuma, Bahamas

GGT

Bahamasair, SkyBahamas

Havana, Cuba

HAV

Bahamasair

Inagua, Bahamas

IGA

Bahamasair

Kingston, Jamaica

KTP

Caribbean Airlines

Long Island, Bahamas

LGI

Bahamasair, SkyBahamas

Long Island, Bahamas

SML

Bahamasair, SkyBahamas

Mayaguana, Bahamas

MYG

Bahamasair

Normans Cay, Bahamas

NMC

Performance Air

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

PLS

Bahamasair, British Airways, Intercaribbean Airways

Rock Sound, Eleuthera

RSD

Bahamasair

San Salvador, Bahamas

ZSA

Bahamasair, SkyBahamas

Staniel Cay, Bahamas

TYM

Flamingo Air, Performance Air

the Bahamas

MYE3

Flamingo Air

the Bahamas

MYEB

Flamingo Air

the Berry Islands, Bahamas

GHC

SkyBahamas

the Bimini Islands, Bahamas

BIM

SkyBahamas, Western Air

Getting to Paradise Island by air is one of the easiest options out there, though you'll have to travel about a half an hour after you arrive on New Providence to get there. Even so, it is the most popular transportation choice, and one you should wholeheartedly consider.